Archived Ranch News

11/20/2006 - Predator-Friendly Ranching
Kathleen Bean

Predator Friendly Ranching

Photo: Hector's sheep band spent several nights this summer in temporary corrals to deter predation by wolves. Lava Lake's private and public grazing lands stretch from the sagebrush deserts of the Snake River Plain to the high peaks of the Pioneer and Boulder Mountains incredibly wild country that is rich in biological diversity. Our sheep share that landscape with a variety of large carnivores, including coyotes, bear, mountain lion and wolves. Because of the importance of these carnivores to sustaining a vibrant ecosystem, we have adopted a predator-friendly management approach, but just how do you behave in a friendly way toward animals that would like to eat your sheep? Here are a few of our strategies:

Vigilant Herders. A human presence is the most effective deterrent to wolves, so when our bands are grazing in areas where wolf packs are known to be operating our herders sleep with or very near the band. When wolves or other predators approach, the herder is alerted by dogs, and fires shotgun blasts into the air to frighten them away.

Guard Dogs. Each of our sheep bands (which includes about 900 ewes) is protected 24/7 by as many as four Great Pyrennes and Akbash guard dogs. The dogs sound the alarm if predators approach and will fight fiercely to defend their sheep.

Fladry. When predators are known to be near we bring the sheep in at night to temporary corrals strung with electrified wire and strips of material known as "fladry" (think of the flags at a car lot). Wolves in particular don't like the sight or sound of the flapping material, and the non-harmful electric jolt a predator receives if it hits the wire will likely deter it from approaching the sheep any further.

Collaboration. We work very closely with Defenders of Wildlife, the Nez Perce Tribe, the US Department of Agriculture's Wildlife Services, and the Idaho Department of Fish and Game to both prevent problems with predators in the field and to continuously refine our non-lethal strategies. In addition, we serve on Defenders' Livestock Advisory Council, where we play a role in bringing together the ranching and wildlife conservation communities across the West.

In recognition of our work with predators, Mike Stevens, Lava Lake's President, was recently named a "wildlife hero" by Defenders. See the article at:

http://Action.Defenders.Org

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